Portable fire-escape.



No. 727,980. PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

J. B. LLOYD.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION nun 00-129, 1902.

no MODEL.

x W TNESSES INVENTOR KW% v @zxzesBLlogzZ Attorneys Patented May 1 2,1 903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. LLOYD, OF TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

PORTABLE Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 727,980, dated May 12 1903.

Application filed Octo er 9, 1902. Serial No. 126,500- (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. LLOYD, of Tarboro, in the county of Edgecombe and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fire- Escapes; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in portable fire-escapes which can be easily carried in valises, &c., by travelers; but it is also useful in hotels and residences, which may have such escapes in each room for the use of guests, if desired.

The object of the invention is to provide a light, compact, and strong rope fire-escape and means for readily attaching the same to window-sill or floor, as occasion may require. The escape can be folded into very small compass when not in use and can be readily fastened to the window-frame or wherever it is desired to use the same and will enable a person to descend hand under hand with safety to the ground. r

The invention comprises the novel fastening device for the rope and novel construction of the rope or flexible portion of the device as hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the drawings.

The novel features and advantages of the invention will be described in detail in connection with the description of the construction thereof.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of a building, showing the escape in position for use by a person in descending from an upper floor of a building. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the fastening device, portion of the rope attached, showing parts about full size.

The fastening device is preferably roughly T-shaped and has a. steel twist auger-like shank a and a cross-handle or head I), which is preferably bent, as shown at c in the drawings, on each side of the shank, so as to fit the hand more closely when grasping the same, and this handle may have knob d on its end to prevent the hand slipping thereon. By grabbing the handle in the'hand and pressing the point of the shank into the wood of the window-sill, preferably on the inside, and turning the shank it can be quickly fastened in position, its shape causing itto rapidly enter the wood when turned without requiring much direct pressure. To the junction 'of the shank and handle is securely fastened.

the upper end of a rope e, which is knotted at regular intervalssay about eighteen inches or two feet apart. (Shown atf.) Strung on the rope between these knots are leather disks g. I use leather or similar semiyielding material for several reasons. It is light and being semifiexible it enables the escape to be coiled into a very small space when not in use. It is particularly useful when the same is to be carried in a valise. Said disks prevent the knots of the rope from cutting the hand and also prevent the hand slipping off or over the knots of the rope and do not injure the hands or the feet or limbs of the party attempting to descend the rope, as a hard unyielding substance .would do, and they are not liable to become quickly heated.

The operation is as follows: A person having one of these fire-escapes being aroused by the alarm of fire will first fasten the holder 0. in position, as described," preferably under the window-sill, within the room, as indicated in Fig. 1. He then throws the rope, provided with the little disks, out of the window and lowers himself thereon, descending hand under hand, and by grasping the rope tightly between the legs or feet he can descend easily, rapidly, and with perfect safety.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is V 1. In a portable fire-escape, a T-shaped fastener having a spiral twisted and pointed shank and a bent T-shaped head or handle thereon, and a flexible rope attached to said shank, and provided with leather handholds or disks at intervals along its length, all substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described fire-escape, comprising the T-shaped fastening device, hav- 2 va'aeso handlebentsubstantially as described,a fieximy own I aflix my signature in presence of bie rope having one end attached to said fastwo witnesses.

tening device, and provided with knots at in- T tervals on its length, and leather disks strung JAMES LL01 5 on the rope intermediate the knots thereon, In presence ofall substantially as set forth. T. H. ALEXANDER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ARTHUR E. DOWELL. 

